Children playing basketball with a hoop on the street may seem like an American tradition, but according to the ordinances of Forks Township, it’s an obstruction.
The township recently began enforcing its ordinance that roadway obstructions, like portable basketball hoops, are not allowed. The ordinance also lists skateboarding and biking ramps, and sport goals as obstructions.
For the last month, residents who have basketball hoops on or near the street have received notices from the township zoning officer that they are in violation. No violation fines have been issued yet.
Township officials said they have received multiple complaints about basketball hoops being placed on roads. A public works truck hit one and caused damage, according to township Supervisor John O’Neil.
Police and some residents have also complained, Supervisor Gene Parziale said.
Several residents, who said they have had hoops in front of their houses for years, complained at the Thursday supervisors’ meeting about the notices they received.
Resident Kim Fritchman said she has a small driveway and there is nowhere else on her property to put a basketball hoop except near the road.
Her road is not busy and is a safe place for her children to play, Fritchman said. Going to one of the local parks or schools to play basketball is not always an option for her children, especially when other people are already playing at the courts, she said.
“To take away our kids playing outside is unfair,” Fritchman said.
Fritchman said the base is behind the curb on her property. The only part that sticks out beyond the curb is the actual basket. Regulation basketball hoops are 18 inches in diameter attached by a 6-inch neck extending from the backboard.
Tree branches in her neighborhood stick out farther over the street than her basketball hoop, she said.
Resident Tim Richardson echoed Fritchman’s sentiments and said the township’s zoning officer should be focusing on other things.
“To take away an outlet for kids to play outside is a shame,” Richardson said.
Supervisor Tim Hughes said it was never the township’s intention to have the hoops taken down. The township was considering safety issues, he said.
O’Neil said the zoning officer should continue to enforce the ordinance for hoops that have a base in the roadway but he would consider not enforcing hoops that have the bases behind the curb on private property where only the basket extends over the roadway.
The supervisors said they would discuss the best way to move forward with enforcement.
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John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
